MK Uri Maklev addressed, in an interview with Yuval Karni in Yedioth Ahronoth, the question "Why does Deri suspect you of going with Gantz and not with Netanyahu?".
""I know what this stems from: theses that roll out and are difficult to stop. Before the government fell apart, Gafni made efforts to form another government in the Knesset so as not to go to elections.".
""Gafni is perhaps the only one whose door was open to anyone who belonged to the other bloc. Gafni also didn't say at the time whether Netanyahu would lead or not. From here it emerged that we were going with Gantz. But Gafni is also experienced enough to know that it is impossible to be in a government that Likud is not in, that it is not one of its components.".
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And what will happen if Netanyahu is not 61 again? He was asked.
""You shouldn't think thoughts that you shouldn't think about. I don't want to think about that. You ask someone who's going to a wedding, tell me, 'What happens if it doesn't work out'?"'
On the question of whether Gantz is worthy of being Prime Minister - he replied: "We have never ruled out Gantz. Not only is he worthy, we also went with him. But if you ask who I see first - then Netanyahu before Gantz. Gantz is worthy in my opinion, but I think Netanyahu is more worthy. Gantz, Lapid, Merav Michaeli and Naftali Bennett together are not equal to Netanyahu's ability, experience and international recognition.".
Is there a chance that the Haredim will sit with Lapid in the government?
""I don't think it's relevant right now, because it's basically either Lapid or Netanyahu. We're not about disqualification. We don't want to put ourselves at the center of the dispute between Netanyahu and Lapid. It's time for you to fight for once. Stop constantly putting the Haredim as victims of your arguments. We absolutely support Netanyahu.".
And what does he say about the phenomenon of support for Itamar Ben-Gvir among young people in the Haredi sector?
""There is no phenomenon. There may be a few young people, but not a phenomenon, nor in numbers that are significant to him. However, I do not underestimate anything. In preparation for the elections, we will sharpen the message that for us, elections are a framework. The path that Ben Gvir is taking is not our path.".
